Being an old fan of the Generation X title from the 90’s really got me excited for the new Generation X title. Just from the first issues cover it was clear that Generation X alumni Jubilee would be present and accounted for, and all other characters shown were the younger generation of X-Men that most X-Men readers are familiar with. Four issues into the series I can honestly say it’s been a fun ride, but something seems familiar.

Writer Christina Strain and Artist Amilcar Pinna are the team bringing Generation X fans down memory lane, but also keeping me wanting more of the new Generation. First thing I want to point out is that all the new Generation X students were students from the ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ series. If you didn’t read that series, Wolverine was the Headmaster of the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning and he had a band of rebellious students that were constantly getting into trouble. If you read that series there are a bunch of familiar faces, except one. A new student has enlisted into the school, his name is Nathaniel. Nathaniel is a very close resemblance to a younger Nathan Summers, who also has a form of telepathy that is drawn from making physical contact with someone, kind of like a mix of Rogue and Cable. This fourth issue brings the Generation X students into contact with a former foe and teammate. One of the teammates doesn’t walk away unscathed and it takes Chamber, the former Generation X student, to know where the students emotional and physical pain is coming from after the encounter.

Strain provides a well written story about these teenagers’ lives; how they are coping with being Mutants and how they handle being dropped into this more controlled environment. Jubilee is written to be the mature mother figure of the X-Students, her experience throughout the years serves her well as an instructor and mentor. Though she finds it hard to be angry at her students for pulling the same stunts she used to when she was their age. Pinna provides a well-illustrated take on the Generation X title; everything comes across as playful and given a feel almost like a Reality Show. One thing I notice about the art is Nature Girl; her antlers seem to be constantly changing in weird ways and I’m not sure if she is supposed to have ever-changing physicality or if this is just an artist who is not consistent all the time.

All in all, I thought Generation X #4 was a good book; the art tells the story clearly and directly and the character dialogue is pretty spot on from how the characters have come across from previous writers. It’s interesting that this title is a move forward from the ‘Wolverine and the X-Men’ series. Seeing how I used to read that series I’m glad to say that Strain and Pinna are doing a great job picking up the pieces of a rather emotionally damaged team. This is a book I enjoy reading each month.